Rotary intaglio printing press



March 3l, 1942.

J. B. MARDI-:CAMP

ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING PRESS Filed Aug. s, 1940 3 sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY z Jl www@ March 31, 1942.` J. B. PAARDECAMP 2,218,138

ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING PRESS Filed Aug. s. 1940 y :s sheets-sheet 2 lNvENToR JOHN QQAROECAM/J ATTORNEY March 31, 1942. J, B, PAARDECAMP l 2,278,138

ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING PRESS Filed Aug. 5, 1940 3 sheets-sheet s INVENTOR Jay/v @www4/W ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 31, 1942 ROTARY INTAGLIo PRINTING PRESS J ohn B. Paardecamp, Paterson, N. J., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Interchemical Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Ohio Application August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,386

19 Claims.

This invention relates to rotary intaglio printing presses and aims specically to provide an improved doctor blade mechanism, ink applicator and substantially completely enclosed fountain housing for a multi-color rotary intaglio printing press having substantially horizontally disposed printing couples. d

The usual type of multi-color rotary intaglio printing press includes vertically arranged printing couples in which the impression cylinders are positioned directly above the associated printing cylinders. In order to obtain certain advantages in feeding the web, utilizing waste space beneath the printing couple and increasing the ratio of live web to dead web for more eiective drying in shorter space and consequent reduction of problems of register in multi-color printing, it has been suggested that substantially horizontally disposed printing couples be employed.

' In such printing couples, the impression cylinas in the usual type of construction, this arrangement providing a printing line at the side rather than the top of the printing cylinder. It has also been suggested that this type of rotary intaglio printing press having horizontally disposed printing couples may be used with the available quickdrying intaglio inks by applying a uniform film of ink to the printing surface substantially immediately beyond the printing line. By so applying the ink the cells of the engraving are protected from evaporation between the printing line and the doctor blade, which, because of the dow of ink removed thereby, is necessarily placed at the side of the printing cylinder opposite the and in large quantities, depending somewhat upon the speed; and for high press speeds splashing of ink creates a noticeable problem. Moreover, due to the placing of the ink applicator immediately beyond the printing line, tle applicator is somewhat inaccessible and difficult to adjust; and if splashing of ink occurs, there is a tendency to disgure the freshly printed web. t

I have discovered that the above and other difficulties encountered in the costruction and operation of multi-color rotary intaglio printing presses having substantially horizontally disposed printing couples may be effectively eliminated, and have provided an improved printing press construction for accomplishing this desirable rev In accordance with my invention,the ink is applied to the printing surface by means of an improved type of ink applicator which is positioned directly beneath the centerof the printing cylinder' and said printing cylinderr is provided with an enclosure for veifectively covering the printing surface from a p oint substantially immediately beyond the printngline to the doctor blade, so as to eliminate completely any'unauthorizedl passage of. ink from the vicinity of the printing cylinder and also, though incidentally, to retard evaporationof, ink. My improved substantially completely enclosed fountain housing may comprisea stationary .rectangular walled lower portion for the lower half of the printing cylinder and of such size asto accommodate the cylinder of maximum diameter. A vertically movable ink overow and retu'rn pan cooperates with the lower edges of this rectangular Walled I section and rigidly carries the ink applicator so lthat mere movement of the return pan into position Willresult in bringing the applicator' into proper relationship with respect to the printing surface after initial adjustments have been made. The entire return pan and applicator are readily removable for cleaning and changing. Cooperating with the, stationary lower section of the enclosure, I have provided an upper removable and adjustable housing section which, together with* the hood or shieldy completes the enclosure for the printing cylinder., This upper section is easily removed for changing printing cylinders and provides suitable supports for the shield, the cylinder end seals and the ends of the usual reciprocating doctor blade. The upper section also includes an adjustable wall portion which is movable to accommodate printing cylinders of different size and the resulting change of position of the doctor blade. includes a novel mounting for the doctor blade so that it may be moved and maintained in any proper adjusted position regardless of the size of the printing cylinder; and also includes an improved set of operating arms for moving the shield or-hood to inoperative position without My invention also view being taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail elevational view, 15

partly in section, showing the inoperative position of the movable and adjustable portion of the upper section of the housing;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, taken substantially along the line #-4 of Fig. 2; and f Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the mounting and adjusting means for the doctor blade.

I have shown my invention embodied in a printing press having horizontally disposed printing couples and of the type disclosedA in Arthur M. Wickwire, Jr., application Serial No. 217,139, led July 2, 1938, to-which reference may be made for a more complete description of the general arrangement of such a press. It is to be underi stood, however, that the invention is not restricted in its use to a rotary intaglio printing press of the specinc character disclosed insaid application,but, in its broader aspects, is applicable .to rotary intaglio printing presses generally.

Referring now tothe drawings, and particularly Figs. 1, 2 and 4, it will be observed that the improved rotary intaglio printing press in which the essential features of my invention have' been embodied comprises spaced side frame members F (shown in dot and `dash lines) which include substantially horizontally disposed members Il for supporting a printing-cylinder P, vertically disposed members I2 for the mounting of suitable guideways (not shown) for an impression As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the fountain housing H comprises a lower stationary, rectangular walled section I6 having va front wall I8, a rearv i wall 20, and suitable end walls 22, 22 all of which are preferably formed as a single casting of suitable size for the reception of approximately the lower half of the largest size of printing cylinder P. In the drawings, I have shown'in dot and dash lines, the position of the largest size of printing cylinder P with reference to the housing H, and in Fig. 2 have also included the position of the smallest size oiprinting cylinder. Hereinafter when the printing cylinder P is referred to.. it is intended to mean the cylinder of largest diameter. The front wall I8 extends from an angular upper edge 2l, disposed in the same plane as the upper edge of the horizontal frame member I0 and the center line of the shaft of the printing cylinder, to a lower rounded edge 20 which is positioned a few inches below the bottom of the printing cylinder P; and said wall Il is provided with a lower finished face 28 and an upper finished face 30. Rear wallv2|l extends from a lower rounded edge 32,' in the plane of the edge 26, upwardly to an upper flat edge 34 which is positionedabout half the distance between the center line of the printing cylinder shaft and the lower edge 32, and has mounted thereon, prefercylinder I, and lower round vertical supporting members i4 for slidably supporting an ink pan carriage "C, all as more fully disclosed in said Wickwire application referred to above. It will be noted that the impression cylinder I yand the printing cylinder P constitute a substantially horizontally disposed printing couple since said K Y with my invention, by means of lan ink applicator Afwhich is positioned directly beneath the axis of the printing cylinder; and excess ink is re-` moved from'the printing surface and said surface conditioned for printing by means of a suitable ,doctor blade mechanism D. splashing of ink from the vicinity of the printing cylinder and-the 95 ink applicator A is prevented and substantial evaporation of ink solvents is reduced or 'prevented byjmeans of a suitable enclosure or fountain housing H; and evaporation of-ink, or the solvents thereof, from the conditioned portion of the printing surface between the doctorblade D and the printing line is prevented by means of a ably in fluid-tight relation therewith, a shaft which has connected thereto an arcuate-shaped cover member 38. Shaft 30 for the arcuate cover member 38 is rotatably mounted in the end walls 22 and provided at one end thereof with a knob or handle Il for turning the cover member II to in liig. 2, when the fountain housing is used with printing cylinders of smaller size than the largest diameter printing cylinder P. For accessibility,

the shaft 36 may be extended through the horizontal member Il of the frame F andthe handle 4l positioned outside said frame. The cover member 3lv may be locked in any desired adjusted position bymeans of a locking arm 42 provided on the shaft outside the frame member il and having an arcuate slot M therein through which a locking thumb screw extends and is threaded in the side frames. Each of the end walls 22 has formed integrally therewith a half cylindrical collar portion or member 4l (Fig. 4) `through which the. shaft of the'prlnting cylinder P is adapted to extend in substantially fluid-tight engagement therewith. Horizontal reinforcing flanges il (Fig. l) are provided at the upper edges of the said-half-cylindrical collar member Il and a vertical supporting or reinforcing rib I2 is provided beneath the central part of said collar Il. A horizontal supporting flange-ll formed at the base of the vertical reinforcing rib l2 provides a support or attaching means for .the entire lower stationary portion II of the fountain housing H,

shield S. My invention consists principally in the side frames in any suitable manner rigidly to the novel and improved features of the ink applicator A, the enclosed fountain housing H, the

maintain the section II of the fountain housing H in the pomtion shown in the drawings. The

end walls 22 arealso provided, in the lower portions thereof beneath the supporting anges 54, with finished faces 58. f

All of the finished faces of the lower portions of the walls I8, 28 and 22, 22, cooperate with corresponding finished inside edges 68 provided on an ink return flow and applicator supporting pan 62 which is adapted to close the lower open side of the stationary section I6 of the fountain housing. This pan 62 is provided with rectangular walls corresponding substantially in length with the finished surfaces of the four walls of the seccenter line of said cylinder or to the flange 88..

tion I6 and merging at their lower curved ends said pan and may be connected, by a suitable return pipe 68, to an ink reservoir 18. In a position substantially directly beneath the center line of the printing cylinder shaft, the ink pan may.

be provided with a flanged inlet orifice 12 to which the ink applicator A is attached, as will hereinafter more fully appear, so that ink may be supplied thereto through a'supply pipe 14 connected with a pump 16 mounted on or associated with. the ink reservoir 18.

Suitable supporting legs 18 are provided on the bottom of the ink pan 62 for supporting said ink pan upon the carriage C for vertical movement up and down beneath the printing cylinder in the manner disclosed in said A. M. Wickwire, Jr., application Serial No. 217,139 referred to above. It will be apparent that the ink pan 62 provides a closure'for the bottom of the stationary section I6 of the fountain housing H, which closure has a substantially fluid-tight sealing fit with the nished faces of the rectangular walls of said lower section so that, by movement of the carriage C, said. pan may be moved to any desired vertical position for adjustment of the position of the ppilzzator A with respect to the printing cylin- Fountain housing H also includes an upper and removable and adjustable section 88 which cooperates with the upper edges of the lower stationary section I6, the .printing cylinder P, the doctor blade D, and the shield S to complete the closure for the major portion of said printing cylinder P. This upper section 80 comprises a pair of end members 82, a forward movable clo'sing or cover member 84 and a pair of end seal supports or supporting segments 86. The end members 82 are of rather unusual shape and each is provided at the lower central portion thereof with a half f cylindrical collar member or portion -88, which, together with the collar portion 48'of the lower section I6, complete the enclosure around the shaft 'of the printing cylinder P. Horizontal supporting anges 98 are provided on the lower edge of the e'nd members 82 for cooperation with the oppositely disposed flanges 58 of the lower section so that said end members may be removably maintained in proper position by means of screws 92 extending through said flanges.

Each end member 82 extends vertically upward from the horizontal fianges 98 and terminates in an upper curved edge 94 corresponding substantially with, but of slightly larger diameter than, the curvature of printing cylinder P. At the right-hand side thereof, each end member 82 is provided with a cut-out portion 96 which extends inwardly to a point adjacent the collar portion 88 and upwardly substantially two-thirds the height These two cut-out portions 98 and 96 permit the doctor blade D and the impression cylinder I to be moved to their proper different positions for printing cylinders of smaller diameter, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

It will be noted that the forward finished edge |88 of the end members 82 is aligned with the upper finished face 38 of the forward wall I8 of the lower 'stationary section 'I6 of the fountain housing H. Forward movable cover member 84 comprises a front vertically disposed wall |82 which extends across the press slightly beyond the upper end members 82 and is provided with an inside finished face which is adapted to cooperate with the upper finished face 38 of the front wall I8 and the finished vedge |88 of each of the end members 82. In normal uppermost position, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the lower edge of the front wall member |82 is positioned adjacent the angular edge 24 of the front wall I8, and said wall |82 extends upwardly to a curved top sealing blade supporting portion |84. Side Walls |86, |86, corresponding in shape to the shape of the cutout portions 98 but of sufiicient size to overlap the edges thereof, are provided on or formed integrally with the top portion |84 and are so disposed as to fit against and engage with the inside faces of the end members 82. Suitable sealing strips |88, which may consist of one or more thin sheets or strips of fiexible sheet metal, rubber, plastic or like material, are secured to the forward edge of the top member I 84 and maintained in proper position thereon by means of a clamping rod ||8. The sealing strip |88 extends outwardly from the edge of the top member |84 into sealing engagement with the underside of the doctor blade D, and extends longitudinally into frictional engagement with the inner faces of the end members 82 adjacent the left-hand end of the upper edge 94 thereof.

It will be apparent that, since the printing cylinder P ordinarily rotatescin a clockwise direction (Fig. 2), the greatest amount of ink thrown from the printing surface will be thrown against the forward wall" of the fountain housing which is made up of the walls I8 and |82. To prevent completely the seepage of any ink between the inside finished face of the wall 82 and the cooperating outside finished face 38 of the wall I8, a thin sheet metal double sealing member I I2 may be provided. This is removably positioned inside the wall |82 a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the wall I8 and extends through a suitable elongated slot |`|4 provided in the upper curved top wall or portion |84, a stop member ||6 preventing the member I|2 from sliding into the housing and maintaining it in proper vertical position.

For accommodating printing cylinders of smaller diameter than printing cylinder P, with a minimum of `changeable parts, the upper and forward movable cover member 84 described above is slidable between and on the forward edge |88 of the end members 82 and on the finished face 3 8, and is also movable to an inoperative poaccess may be gained thereto for cleaning or |20 with lever arms |22 mounted on a shaft |24. l

Shaft |24 is rotatably mounted in a pair of brackets |26 attached to or formed integrally with the stationary lower section |'6 of the fountain housing. At one side of the press, said shaft |24 extends through the horizontal member I0 of the side frames F and is provided with an operating crank arm |28 having a handle |30 and an arcuate lockingv slotl |32 which cooperates with a locking screw |34 to maintain th`e lever arms |28 in any adjusted position. vIt will be apparent that by moving the crank arms |28 upwardly after loosening the locking screw |34, shaft |24 will be moved in a clockwise direction and, through the crank arms |22, will cause a downward movement of the links |20 and a consequent downward movement of the top and forward movable cover members 84.

Said forward cover members B4 are guided in this downward movement over the finished face 30 by means of guiding screws |36 which pass through elongated vertical guiding slots |38 provided in the forward wall |02 of said members and are threaded into suitable vertically disposed lugs or shoulders |40 provided at the ends of the horizontal flanges 90. By tightening the screws-|36 the slidable cover members 84 may be maintained in their properadjusted positions. In the event that it is desired to gain access to the fountain and the printing cylinder, after moving the doctor blade D and the shield S to @their inoperative positions-in a manner to be hereinafter' described, screws |36 may be removed and the cover member 84 rotated to an inoperative position, such as illustrated in Fig. 3.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, a pair of end seal and shield supports |42 are mounted on the collar portions 08 directly adjacent the inside faces of the end members 02 and held in proper position thereon by means of suitable screws |44. 'Diese end seal supports are segmental in shape and extend from a lower edge |44, which is horizontal and may rest upon the right-hand flange 50 of the end walls 22 of the lower stationary section |6, through an arc slightly greater than 90 degrees to a. left-hand vertically disposed edge |40, and have an outer curved edge |48 of approximately the same radius, but slightly greater than (Fig. 4), the radius f the printing cylinder P. Sealing members |50 are provided on this i curvededge |48 and secured thereto by means of f f-.screws |52. These sealing `members may be conof an inch to about of an inch depending tain it properly spaced from the surface of the -printing cylinder the desired distance. Furthermore, they also act partially to support the doctor blade D for I have provided small supporting blocks |54 on the vertical edges I 46 adjacent the top thereof which have their top edges posi- .tioned directly in line with theprinting surface so as to receive and support the ends of the reciprocating doctor blade D.

Y The ink applicator Ink'is applied to the printing cylinder P in the desired quantities by means of the ink applicator A. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the ink applicator A comprises a substantially triangular or V-shaped casting V|60 having an upper substantially horizontally disposed elongated edge |62 of approximately the same length as the printing cylinder P and finished smooth on the inside vface thereof. 'I'he casting |60 also includes upper vertical side wall portions 64 which extend downwardly a short distance from the upper edge |62 and merge into inwardly sloping side walls |66 which extend downwardly to a anged base |68 and may be provided, if desired, with suitable reinforcing ribs or flanges |10. The flanged base |68 has a suitable inlet oriilce |12 therein and said base-is of proper size and shape for attachment to the flanged ink -pan orifice 12 by means of suitable screws |14. The casting |60 also includes a back wall |16 which extends downwardly from the upper edge |62 and joins into the side wall portions |64 and |66 and the base |68. As indicated in Fig. 2, said back wall |16 is curved slightly adjacent the base so as to provide with the orifice |12 a suitable ink distributing inlet chamber or portion |18.

Casting |60 also has formed on the inside of the back wall |10 thereof a first and centrally disposed streamlined abutment or baille and, on either side of the abutment |80, first, second and third similar streamlined ab'utments or bailies |82, |84 and |00, respectively, these latter baffles being angularly disposed in a somewhat fanshaped or radial arrangement. Each of the baiiles has a lower partially circular curved end and tapers upwardly to a sharp'point at the upper end. All of the sharp pointed ends of the baiiles are arranged substantially in a straight horizontal line across the entire applicator so as toxdividesaid applicator, or the upper applying edge thereof into eight approximately equal increments of length. The size, shape and arrangement of the bames is such that, when ink is supplied through the orifice |12 to the initial distribution chamber |10, it will be caused to spread out and be uniformly distributed throughout the entire length of the upper edge |62.

The thickness or depth of each of the bailles corresponds with the height or the width of the sloping side walls |00 ofthe applicator so that a sheet metal cover member |80, corresponding in shape to the entire triangular shaped applicater. may be secured over the front side of` the casting and attached toA the side walls |60 and` |04 by means of screws |00. As shown in Fig. 2, the cover 'is ush with the exposed surface of the bames, so as to divide the applicator into a plurality of chambers. Said cover member |00 is bent inwardly toward the vrear wall |16 on a line corresponding to the line formed by the top points of the bailles |00, |82, |84 and |06 so as to form with said rear wall a top triangular shaped chamber |02 having a thin elongated slot or orifice |04 at the ton thereof. The slot or orifice |94 is about 115 of an inch in width and of the same length as the engraved portion of the printing cylinder.

The construction of the applicator A shown in the drawings is designed for a printing cylinder having a printing surface substantially v27 inches in length. With such a length of printing surface, I have found that the seven baies described, whichl divide the chamber |92 into the eight uniformv increments of length, are sumcient to effect the proper distribution of ink throughout the length of the orice |94. For such a size of applicator and number of baffles, I have found that a radius of about of an inch for the centrally disposed baille |80 and of about 1/2 inch for the other baffles is suitablefor the lower circular curved portions thereof. In order to maintain an even distribution of ink throughout the length of the chamber |92 and the orice( |94, the placement ofbthe streamlined abutments or bailles becomes an important factor; and I have found that a -uniform distribution of ink throughout the eight increments of length of the applicator can be obtained by placing the baille |80 above the inlet orifice so that the incoming ink will be divided into two equal parts, one owing to the right and the other fiowing to the left side of the applicator. Then by having the distance between the lower curved part of baille |82 and wall |66 approximately three times as great as the distance between the lower curved parts of baffles |82 and |80, and the distance .between the lower curved part-of baffle |84 and wall |66 approximately twice as great as the closest distance between the bailles |84 and |82, and the distance between the lower curved part of baille |86 and wall |66 substantially equal to the distance between bailles |86 and |84, one quarter of each of the two equal parts of ink divided by the central baille |80 will be caused to flow to one of the eight equal increments of length of the chamber |92 and orilce '|94.

For proper application of ink to/ the surface of the printing cylinder P, I havefound that ,a maximum space of approximately 0.014 inch between theprinting surface and the top edge |62 and orifice |94 of the ink applicator is desirable. A proper setting of the applicator may be obtained by placing a sheet of paper of -the desired thickness (approximately 0.014 inch) on top of the applicator before moving the carriage C up- {wardly on the tubular supports I4 intoproper position with the oxerflow ink pan engaging the lower'. edges of the stationary rectangular wall section |6. The thickness of the paper then governs the distance between the printing surface and the top ofthe applicator. Thus, when the applicator is moved into contact with the cylinder having the paper on the top thereof, a suitable stop collar |96 (Fig. 1) provided on the tubular support |4 may be moved into contact with the carriage and there setto determine the .proper adjusted position of the applicator. After setting the stop member |96, the carriage C may be lowered and the paper on top of the applicator removed.

Due to the narrowness yof the width of the orifice |94, and the volatility` of the ink suitable for use innmy improved apparatus, it may happen that, during periods of shut-down of the press, the ink will harden and clog the orifice |94. If this occurs, many possible difficulties may ensue when the press is again started and ink is pumped under pressure to the applicator. To prevent this, I have provided an additional elongated ink outlet or orifice |98 adjacent the orifice |94. This orifice |98 is formed by attaching a suitably shaped narrow plate 200 to the back wall |16 near the top thereof and attaching it thereto by means of screws 202. The shape of the plate 200 is such as to provide a passage 204 beneath the orifice |98 Vwhich opens into the chamber |92 of the main portion of the applicator through a plu-` rality of slots or openings 206. This passage 204 and the elongated slot-like orice |98 may be from 1/4 to of an inch in widthso that there will be no possibility of ink clogging or solidifying therein. Thus, even though the orifice |94 may be clogged, when ink is pumped into the applicator, it'will pass through the openings 206 into the passage 204 and to the printing cylinder surface l through the orifice |98. Some ink will also pass TheA doctor blde mechanism As best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5,. the doctor blade mechanism D comprises a suitable thin resilient` doctorv blade 2|0 having a reinforcing blade 2|2 arranged' on the top side thereof, both being mounted* `as`uitable doctor blade holder 214 by means' of a'clamping plate 2|6. Doctor blade holder 2|4'is provided with a suitable groove 218 on the underside of the upper end thereof so that the doctor blade may be removably supported on a rotatable adjusting shaft 220. A shft 222 suitably supported in the doctor blade holder 2|4, as by means vof clamps 224 (Fig. l), provides a support for a plurality of curved blade or tension adjusting fingers 226. These fingers are slidably mounted on the shaft 222 and extend forwardly and downwardly from the shaft 222.

into contact with the upper reinforcing pressure blade 2 I2. They may be urged into suitable pressure contact therewith by means of .pressure adjusting screws 228 which are threaded through extensions 230 provided on said fingers, on the other side of the shaft 222, and adapted to bear against the top side of the doctor blade holder 2|4. Any desired number of these pressure adjusting fingers may be provided on the shaft 222 and placed at convenient intervals or moved to any desired positions throughout the-length thereof for changing' or adjusting the pressure of the doctor blade in any portion or portions of its length.

Shaft 220, upon which the doctor blade holder y 2|4 is removably mounted, is rotatably supported in a pair of spaced supporting arms 232 which are rigidly mounted or keyed upon the ends of a primary adjusting shaft 234. Outside the arm 232, on one or both sides of the press, shaft 220 is provided with a rearwardly projecting crank arm 236 and a fork or. yoke-shaped adjusting member 238. Arm 236, which is actually rotatably mounted on the shaft 220, has operative connection with said shaft 220 through a pin or lug 240'mounted in said arm and a pair of cooperating adjusting screws 242 mounted in the projecting fingers of the fork or yoke member 238 which is fixed upon the shaft 220. The free end of crank arm 236 is provided with a locking pin or plunger 244 which is adapted to cooperate with suitable stop or adjustment openings 246 provided in an arcuate-shaped plate attached to or formed integral with the supporting arm 232 between the shafts 220 and 234. It will be apparent that with the mounting construction thus far described for the doctor blade 2 I 0, said blade may be given comparatively large angular movements by adjusting the pin 244 to different openings in the member 248, and may then be given any desired finer adjustments by turning the screws 242 so as to move the shaft 220 and the doctor blade relative to the arm 236. In this manner, the angular relation of the doctor blade 210 with reference to the printing surface may be adjusted. Such adjustments of the doctor blade may be called the secondary angular adjustments.

Primary adjusting shaft 234 is rotatably mounted at each end thereof in a suitable vhub 250 provided on or formed integral with suitable cross braces 252 for a pair of parallel slidable bars 254. As shown in Fig. l, a gear 256 mounted on the shaft 234 is adapted to mesh with a suitable cooperating helical gear 258 mounted on a stub shaft 260 which is rotatably supported in a suitable bracket 262 secured to one of the cross bars 254. A crank 264 is provided on the outer end of the shaft so that said shaft may be turned to effect a rotative movement of the supporting arms 242 through the gears 258 and 256. Thus, by turning the crank 264 the entire doctor blade mechanism may be moved angularly about the shaft 234. If desired, a suitable locking means 266 may be provided on the shaft 260 between the crank 264 and the bracket 262 for locking the shaft 260 when the proper adjusting movement of the arm 232 has been effected.

The pair of slidable supporting bars 254 are slidably mounted in suitable hubbed openings 268 provided in horizontally disposed arms 210 of a pair of upright supports 212 mounted on the horizontally disposed members I of the printing press side frames F. All of the doctor blade mechanism above described, which is supported upon the slidable supporting bars 254, is adapted to be reciprocated in the openings 268 provided in the upright support 212, by connecting one of said bars 254 or cross braces 252 with any conventional type of reciprocating mechanism, such as'a suitable cam and lever mechanism associated with the drive of the printing press (not shown) For moving the entire doctor blade mechanism toward and away' from the printing cylinder P along the horizontal members 10 of the printing press frame, the upright supports 212 are provided with grooves 214 in the undersides thereof, which grooves are adapted to engage suitable guide members 216 mounted on the horizontal frame members. The upright supports 212 may be further rigidified and guided in their movement along the guideways 216 by means of suitable guide rods 216 attached to said supports 212 and adapted to slide in openings provided in .as-

l sociated supporting brackets or lugs 280 mounted on the horizontal members 10 of the printing press frame.

To eect the desired movement of the entire doctor blade mechanism along the guideways 216, a screw shaft 282, engaging a suitable threaded opening provided in a lug 284 attached to the upright support 212, is mounted for rotation in a bracket' 286 attached to the horizontal press frame member 10 and adapted to be rotated by 280 which extends across the press and is provided with a suitable crank arm or handle 292 at one end thereof.

With the doctor blade supporting and adjusting mechanism described above, it will be understood that the doctor blade 210 may be moved to substantially any desired angular adjusted position; and also may be moved to the proper angular adjusted position for any desired printing cylinder diameter, such adjusted positions for the actual wiping end of the doctor blade 210 describing a line substantially coincident with the left-hand edge of the endseal support'.

The shield supporting mechanism As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and referred to above, the shield S comprises an arcuate-shaped sheet metal member 296 which conforms substantially to the curvature of the printing cylinderv P and is supported at each end upon the endseal supports 86,-suitable openings 298 (Fig. 4)

being provided for the screws 152 which hold the endseals upon the supports 86. The shield member 236 extends arcuately from the doctor blade- 210 substantially to the printing line between the impression and printing cylinders. yIn order to provide a substantially air-tight shield between the upper end of the shield 296 of the doctor blade a sealing flap 300, of rubber or thin sheet metal, may be provided.

Th'e shield 296 is supported in its operative position on the endseals but may be moved to an upper inoperative position, shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1, by means of an upper link 302 pivotally connected to a lug 304 mounted on the top of the shield and a lowe'r supporting link or arm 306 suitably connected to a lug 308 mounted towards the lower end of the shield. Link 306, which, as indicated, is adjustable in length, has a pivotal connection 310 with a lever arm 312 mounted on a shaft 314 journaled in the vertical members 12 of the side frames F. Lever arm 312 is adjustably locked to the shaft 314 by means of an adjustable locking collar 316 and is provided towards its outer end with a flat contacting portion 310. Upon rotation of the shaft 314 in a clockwise direction, the flat contacting portion 3 18 is adapted to engage a suitable lug 320 provided on'a lever arm 322 which is pivotally connected to the link 302 and loosely mounted at its other end on the shaft 314. Shaft 314 is adapted to be rotated by means of a suitable any suitable gearing 280 connected to a shaft crank arm 324 having a handle 326 at the outer end thereof and a locking plunger 326 centrally disposed thereon for lcooperation with suitable openings 330 provided in the vertical frame member 12.

It will be noted that the contacting portion 318 of the lever 312 is normally positioned below the lug 320 so that the lever arm 312 will be rotated a short distance before engagement with lug 320 occurs. Thus, upon moving the crank arm 324 so that the locking plunger 328 engages the right-hand opening 330 in the vertical frame to hold the shield S in the inoperative position indicated in dot and dash lines, lever arm 312 will move upwardly and cause the lower end of the shield 206 to be lifted away from the endseal and the printing cylinder P. The upper end of the shield will remain stationary until the contacting portion 318 engages the lug 320 to cause the lever arm 322 to be moved from that time on simultaneously with the lever arm 3|2"` tion without danger of colliding with the doctor blade or any of the other press parts.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that I have provided an improved fountain housing construction, ink applicator, doctor 5 blade, mechanism and shield removing mechanism for a rotary intaglio printing press of the type including substantially horizontally disposed printing couples. Regardless of the size of the printing cylinder (between certain maximum and minimum limits) said cylinder may be conveniently mounted within a substantially air-tight housing so that all splashing of ink to parts of the press where it is not desired and substantial evaporation of solvents in the ink are eliminated. If a smaller printing cylinder than the printing cylinder P shown in the accompanying drawing is used in the apparatusVthe following changes in the parts and the relationship thereof should be made. End seal.sup 20 porting members 8B and their associated end seals |50 of suitable size for the smaller diameter printing cylinder and a shield S for that smaller size are provided, these being the only actual changes in the parts required to accom 25 to a position above that shown in the drawings for the smaller printing cylinder. Next the upper front cover members 84 are moved downwardly by means of the lever |28 to a position where the sealing member |08 is in close proximity to the surface of the printing cylinder. Then the doctor blade is moved into operative position and the angular relationship thereof with respect to the printing surface adjusted so that the doctor blade 2|0 will rest on the surface near the end seals l|50 and have the ends thereof supported on the blocks |54. Finally, the smaller shield S is moved down into operative position resting on the end seals |50 and having the sealing flap in contact with the top surface of the reinforcing pressure member 2l2 of the doctor blade.y

While I have described a now preferred embodiment of the various features of my invention, it will be readily understood that various changes may be made in the construction shown and described, and certain features may be employed without others, without departing from my invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What I claim is:

1. A rotary intaglio printing press, comprising a printing cylinder, an impression cylinder arranged in cooperative relation with said printing cylinder at the side thereof so as to provide a printing line at; the side. of said printing cylinder, means for applying ink to said printing cylinder, a doctor blade positioned at the, side of said printing cylinder opposite the printing line for removing excess ink lfrom said printing vents from the printing cylinder surface between the doctor blade and the printing line.

2. A rotary intaglio printing press, comprising a substantially horizontally disposed printing vcouple in which the impression cylinder is arranged at the side of the printing cylinder so as tov provide a printing line at the side of said printing cylinder, means for applying ink to said printing cylinder substantially directly below the axis thereof, a doctor blade at the side of said cylinder opposite said printing line, a fountain housing for enclosing said ink applying means and the lower pari; of said printing cylinder between said printing line and said doctor blade, and means for preventing evaporation from the conditioned surface of said printing cylinder between said doctor blade and said printing line.

3. A rotary intaglio printing press, comprising a substantially horizontally disposed printing couple in which the impression cylinder is arranged at; the side of the printing cylinder so as to provide a printing line at the side of said printing cylinder, means for applying ink to said printing cylinder substantially directly below the axis thereof, a doctor blade at the side of said cylinder opposite said printing line, a fountain housing for enclosing said ink applying means and thev lower part of said print-- ing cylinder between said printing line and said doctor blade, and means for preventing evaporation from the conditioned surface of said printing cylinder between said doctor blade and said printing line,' said fountain housing including means for sealing the ends of the printing cylinder substantially between the doctor blade and the printing line.

4. A rotary intaglio printing press, comprising l a substantially horizontally disposed printing couple in which the impression cylinder is arranged at the side of the printing cylinder so as to provide a printing line at the side of said printing cylinder, means for applying ink to said printing cylinder substantially directly below the axis thereof, a doctor blade at the side of said cylinder opposite said printing line, a fountain housing ,for enclosing said ink applying meansv and the lower part of said printing cylinder between said printing line and said doctor blade, and means for preventing evaporation from the conditioned surface of said printing cylinder between said doctor blade and said printing line, said last mentioned means being in sealing engagement with said doctor blade and said doctor blade being in sealing engagement with said fountain housing.

5. A rotary intaglio printing press, comprising a substantially horizontally disposed printing couple in which the impression cylinder is arranged at the side of the printing cylinder so as to provide a vprinting line at the side of said g printing cylinder, means for applying ink to said printing cylinder substantially directly below` the axis thereof, a doctor blade Vat the side of said cylinder opposite said printing line, a fountain housing for enclosing said ink applying means and the lower part of said 4printing cylinder betweensaid printing line and said doctor blade, and means for preventing evaporation from the conditioned surface of said printing cylinder between said doctor blade and said printing line, said fountain vhousing including an upper movable section which is adjustable to different positions for accommodating printing cylinders of different sizes. l

6. A rotary intaglio printing press, comprising a substantially horizontally disposed printing couple in which the impression cylinder is arranged at the side of the printing cylinder so as to provide a printing line at the side of said printing cylinder, means for applying ink to said printing cylinder substantially directly below the axis thereof, a doctor blade at the side of said cylinder opposite said printing line, a fountain housing for enclosing said ink applying means the upper edges of the ends of said stationary rectangular section, means adjacent the inner faces of saidr end walls for vsupporting cylinder end seals, and a forward movable cover member in sealing engagement with said end walls, the forward wall of said stationary rectangular sectiofn` and said doctor blade.

and the lower part of said printing cylinder between said printing line and said doctor blade, and means for preventing evaporation from the conditioned surface of saidprinting cylinder between said doctor blade and said printing line, said fountain housing including a lower movable section upon which the ink applying means is mounted. A

'7. In a rotary intaglio printing press having a substantially horizontally disposed printing couple with the printing line at one side of the printing cylinder thereof and a vdoctor blade at the other side thereof, a fountain housing for enclosing the lower portion of the printing cylinder substantially between said doctor blade and said printing line, comprising a lower stationary rectangular section extending from a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the printing cylinder to a position below the printing cylinder, and an upper movable section adapted to have sealing engagement with said doctor blade and .said lower section.

8. In a rotary intaglio printing press having a substantially horizontally disposed printing couple with the printing line at one side of the printing ,cylinder thereof and a doctor blade vat the other side thereof, a fountain housing for enclosing the lower portion of the printing cylinder substantially between said doctor blade and said printing line, comprising a lower stationary rectangular section extending from a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the printing cylinder to a position below the printing cylinder, a movable ink return flow pan in sealing engagement with the lower edges of said stationary rectangular section, and an upper movable section adapted to have sealing engagement with said doctor blade and said lower section.

9. In a rotary intaglio printing press having a substantially horizontally disposed printing couple with the printing line at one side of the printing cylinder thereof and a doctor blade at the other side thereof, a fountain housing for enclosing the lower-portion 'of the printing cylinder substantially between said doctor blade and said prlntingline, comprising a lower stationary rectangular section extending from a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the printing cylinder to a position below the printing cylinder, a pair of upper stationary end walls mounted on lthe upper edges of the ends of said stationary rectangular section, and a forward movable cover member in sealing` engagement with Said end walls, the forward wall of said stationary rectangular section and said doctor blade.

10. In a rotary intaglio printing press having a substantially horizontally disposed printing couple with the printing line at one side ofthe printing cylinder thereof and a doctor blade at the other side thereof, a fountain housing for enclosing the lower portion of the printing cylinder substantially between said doctor blade and said printing line, comprising a lower stationary rectangular section extending from a horizontal.

plane passing through the axis of the printing cylinder to a position below the printing cylinder,

fao

11. Ina rotary intaglio printing press having a printing couple and a doctor blade mounted in cooperative engagement with the printing cylinder, an ink fountain housing enclosing the major portion of said printing cylinder below said doctor blade, comprising a stationary rectangular walled section, a movable ink return flow pan insealing engagement with the lower edges of said stationary section, and means carried by said ink return flow pan for applying ink to said printing cylinder.

12. In a rotary intaglio printing press having a printing couple and a doctor blade mounted in 'cooperative engagement with the printing cylinder, an ink fountain housing enclosing the major portion of said printing cylinder below said doctor blade, comprising a stationary rectangular walled section, a movable ink return ilow pan in sealing engagement with the lower edges of said stationary section, means carried .by said ink return flow pan for applying ink to said printing cylinder, and a vertically movable carriage for supporting said ink return ilow pan so that said pan and said ink applying means may be moved into and out of operative position.

13. In `a rotary intaglio printing press, a printing cylinder, a carriage movable vertically up and Adown beneath said printing cylinder, an ink return flow pan removably mounted on said carriage, and means mounted on said ink return ow pan for applying ink to said printing cylinder, comprising a substantially triangular shaped member having an elongated orifice in an upper horizontally disposed edge thereof, an ink inlet orifice at the juncture of the other. two edges thereof, and means for distributing ink from said inlet substantially uniformly throughout the length of said orifice.

14. In a rotary'intaglio printing press, a printl riage and having an ink inlet orifice in the bota pair of upper stationary end walls mounted on 77,5

tom thereof positioned substantially vertically beneath the axis of the printing cylinderI an ink applicator mounted over said orice and extending upwardly therefrom, and a fountain housing positioned around annajor portion of said printing cylinder and being in sealing engagement with the upper edges of said ink return now pan.

16. In a rotary intaglio printing press having a substantially horizontally disposed printing couple with the printingline at one side of the printing cylinder thereof and a doctor blade at the other side thereof, an arcuatey shield member positioned over the conditioned portion of the printing surface of said printing cylinder substantially between said doctor blade and said -and the supporting arms carried thereby to difprlnting line, and means for moving said shield to an upper inoperative position, comprising a rotatable shaft, a iirst lever mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and pivotally con nected to said shield at .a point adjacent said printing line, and a second lever pivotally connected to said shield at a point adjacent said doctor blade and rotatably mounted on said shaft in a position to be contacted by said first lever and moved thereby so that said shield will first be lifted at the printing line sidevthereof `and will lthen be lifted at the doctor blade side thereof.

17. In a rotary intaglio printing press, a doctor blade mechanism for removing excess ink from the surface of the printing cylinder, comprising a primary adjusting shaft, a pair of supporting arms mounted on said primary shaft, a secondary adjusting shaft, a doctor blade holder mounted on said secondary shaft for rotation therewith, a resilient doctor blade mounted in said doctor blade holder, means associated with said secondary adjusting shaft and at least one of said supporting arms for rotating said secondary adjusting shaft to dierent angular positions, and

means for rotating said primary adjusting shaft 2 and a plurality of streamlined abutments substantially radially arranged within said hollow member for effecting a substantially uniform distribution of ink throughouty the length of said elongated orifice.

19. An inking apparatus for applying ink to the printing surface of .a rotating printing cylinder,

comprising a substantially triangular shaped hollow member having -a primary elongated narrowv orifice in one edge thereof and an ink inlet orifice at the juncture of the other two edges thereof, baffle means within said hollow member for effecting a substantially uniform distribution of ink throughout the length of said primary o'riiice, and a secondary orifice wider than said primary orifice and arranged in parallel relation therewith.

JOHN B. PAARDECAMP. 

